Thinking of moving back to the UK, could I live on this?

[AllThreeWays]

My partner died 6 months ago and I am feeling overworked and lonely. The city I live in in Australia is renowned for being unfriendly.

I am considering moving to the UK, I am a citizen but haven't lived there since I was 9. I have a teaching degree in Design and Arts, would have about £300000 from the sale of my home and a pension of $26000.

I have to work fulltime in Australia as the pension isn't enougj but I feel it may be enough over there.

What do you think? Are those amounts doable? I would like to work part time and make some friends. I would like to live in a village and I have a DS7.

Opinions?

British people are on the whole quite reserved and if you are also reserved you may find it difficult to make friends. People are often perfectly polite but anything more than a surface acquaintance is difficult to predict with any certainty. I’m just not sure the UK, especially the south, is the place I would be drawn to if I was looking for friendliness. I mean, people here often think ‘keeping yourself to yourself’ is quite a good thing, at least where neighbours are concerned.

Sorry for your loss op

The North is where you need to head if you want to make friends. We tend to be less reserved. Why don’t you book a holiday and check out some locations.

Rural Australia is much cheaper than the UK, and as you know the taxes over here are cheaper too, and no NI payments etc. But of course you then have to live in rural Australia so you're not likely to meet many people...

The amount of money you have would be enough to live on, for sure, but it depends what sort of lifestyle you want. If I were you I'd be making the decision based on where I would feel happier rather than where would be cheaper.

In general it's harder to form friendships with Brits than Aussies. Where in Aus are you, OP?

In general it's harder to form friendships with Brits than Aussies. Where in Aus are you, OP?

You have all given fantastic advice. Thank you.
I'm in Canberra Methyl. Everyone says how hard it is to make friends here.

I am going to sit on this for a bit, because many of you are correct, while I am miserable, DS has a great school and friends.
I will take the time to sort out my over cluttered house, so if I did want to sell it will look good and see if I can find a different job. My current one is too much atm.

Yes, £26k, if you use the lump sum to live rent/mortgage free. We gave been doing sums recently, and reckon on 20k for 4 of us up north, mortgage free and car bought cash for a few years will be living without penny counting. Moving is VERY expensive tho.

I'm sorry about your loss. 6 months is very early days, and I'd be concerned this is a gut reaction, not something that has been planned through fully. Do you have any family in the UK?

I don't have family in the UK no, but I don't have muxh family here either. My daugther 26, is moving to Melbourne and my mother is sadly no help to me even though she is fit and well, just self absorbed.

I just feel like being brave and doing something daring, try to jolt out of the mundane.
I've always played it safe and taken everyone else into consideration, now I have some freedom as I am not tied down to anyone's needs but DS.
Going to give it some time as he comes first though, he's the best kid a mum could wish for.

Have you considered Norfolk? Plenty of little villages but much, much cheaper than the south west.

I agree with the others about taking time.

But I think the suggestion of a visit is a good one.

You have enough money to buy a property outright but not a cottage in Cornwall with a thatched roof, land and roses around the door. Oe of those things probably. Cornwall itself can be a little isolated, obviously the distances are less but there is no motorway.

You might be better looking further north. Also remember rooms are smaller and bathrooms - well one is normal, often with the toilet in the bathroom and the house itself may be physically attached to your neighbours.

Teaching adults hardly happens these days the budgets are just not there so you would be teaching children. You may or may not be considered a qualified teacher but you can get QTS (qualified teacher status) through a system for foreign teachers.

You can work as an unqualified teacher which means doing the same job for less money.

Have a look on Right move to see what you can afford and where. You have enough money to buy more than one property if you were to buy in northern England, you could then have rental income as well as your pension.

And don't forget about British Winters. My Australia born and bred cousin was always excited about snow, until she went to Korea with her partner and discovered the reality of frozen feet.

This is what £300000 will buy in cornwall.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E61294&insId=1&radius=0.0&minPrice=&maxPrice=300000&minBedrooms=&maxBedrooms=&displayPropertyType=&maxDaysSinceAdded=&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

You definitely need to go back first and have a look around a few different places.

I currently live abroad and have done for 10 years. I love where I live and my children were born here but I sometimes feel lonely and isolated.

I just had a holiday in the UK with a view to moving back. I went to the South Hams area of Devon where my parents live. It's a beautiful part of the country and I was able to give my children some amazing experiences but it would be very difficult to fit in.

People were rude and not very accommodating. I went to a play group and couldn't strike a conversation up with any other mums. One shop assistant was so rude to me it bought me to tears and there was generally terrible service everywhere which coupled with the ridiculous prices of everything when we were out and about would definitely put me off living there.

If it's something you're considering you need to try a few different areas and you need to be in the right frame of mind. I second waiting for a while.

Good luck op!

I've found that when I go back we see friends and family and have a great time. But my kids go to camp with the same families that I did 40 years ago. Then I see the other side. Lots of competition between kids/schools etc. Cliques. Some really entitled kids.

I've lived my adult life in France and brought up my kids here. The UK doesn't seem like a better option for my family.

Your DS is only 7. I imagine every 7 year old wouldn't want to move from
what they know, but he is still young enough he could easily make new friends and its before secondary school which would be the main thing for me xx

Short answer, yes you could move and live here on that money in the vast majority of the UK. Put your son into the local school and meet people/find friends that way. Lots of towns have art groups so you could again meet people.
Sounds like taking a break from work now is sensible. They say not to make any big decisions for a year after bereavement and I think that is really true. Take some time out and think and research. But yes, coming here is an option.

You could buy a suitable property in a nice area near a good school in many areas of the UK for £300k or less and the £26k would be plenty to pay bills and live on, even if you didn't work or just did a bit of part time low paid work. You would also get child benefit of £20 a week. in and around cities in Northern England or Scotland is probably best for affordable property, availability of work and quality of life.

Public transport is poor in a lot of areas away from cities so you would probably need a car, but I assume you're used to that. Food in the UK is much cheaper than Australia I think.

Can I just mention the weather, are you ready for cool & wet, OP?

What are you qualified to teach? There's a teaching shortage in UK, but maybe not for DT/Textiles.

I would go north too for a more friendly atmosphere. I also think you’re more likely to get the kind of property you’d like - cottage with studio space in a decent location in the south would probably be more than £300k.

Hi OP

So sorry for your loss.

I grew up in the UK and left when I was 18 and returned again at age of forty.
I spent most of that time away living in New Zealand and Australia (Brisbane).

My wonderful husband passed away when I was 38 and my girls were 5 and 8.

Anyway, two years later I returned to the UK as I wanted my family and friends for support....... And thought it was a better long term decision for my girls.

If I'd had no family or friends here for support and friendship I wouldn't have chosen to move back to the UK. In retrospect, now that my girls are 18 and 21 I feel it was the best decision for us.

I'm just concerned that you'll be leaving family in Australia to move to UK where you have no close family. Would you consider moving closer to your daughter in melbourne?

All I'd say is don't make any major decisions in the first year. Like others have said..... Take a holiday first and see how you feel

Good luck with your dilemma xx

I've lived in Aus for several years then came back to the UK. The lifestyle in the UK is different, it's much more indoors for obvious reasons. There are more clubs and groups but it can take an age to get to actually know anyone. In three years I've made three friends and I think that's quite good going! On paper the UK can look cheaper than Aus but in practice I'm not so sure, I think it just about evens out. If you wanted to see your daughter you'd have to factor in some regular flights too, which stack up.

How about approaching things a bit differently in Canberra? Join some groups, put yourself out there a bit? It's going to be hard but it's exactly what you'd have to do it you did relocate so you may as well give it a go.

Taking a trip to the UK is a good idea, but do it in November or February when it really is at its worst, and do 'normal' things not just a holiday jaunt or you will gets very skewed impression. I mean, go shopping in small towns, go to the local sports centre etc.
£300k isn't going to buy your dream property I'm afraid, housing is expensive in lots of the UK. Rightmove is a good research tool, but remember to add the cost of conveyancing and tax. You won't be a first time buyer if you already own a home so you will have to pay stamp duty. Council tax bands can be looked up as well so you know what you're in for there. I moved to the NE because of ties, and it's a lot cheaper than other areas that are on a par with how beautiful it is here. It's cold though! Like Canberra winter cold up until the three days of +25 around mid June!!

Do you think it would be a good idea for your son, who has just lost his father, to move to the other side of the world from his sister and grandmother? Did your partner have family in Australia that he would also be moving away from?

I understand completely the urge to set a bomb under your life which feels sad and unsatisfying. But this just doesn’t really feel like it’s coming from a place of what’s best for your DS. As a pp says, perhaps an intercity move to be nearer your daughter? A years sabbatical/travelling around Bali and Asia with DS to eat, relax, see sights and think about your next move?

We live in the north east uk and do well on roughly that amount.
Houses are plentiful and cheap . Climate a bit harsh but people are friendly
Cheap to live here
N Yorks also lovely. Depends what you want country or coast.
I’d suggest home edding for your child.
Good network in n East
My daughter has done it for 14 years. Has some great friends and they all go the extra mile for one another. Children are fabulous...all of them...not just my own grandchildren who naturally are all fabulous.😂
Home edding seems to be coming quite popular with people who weren’t born here.

It’s a good way of building up a community for yourself and children
£300,000 would get you a stunning house in my town
£150k would get you a very nice house also in a lovely area. I’m thinking of a property I rent out that would sell for that price.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
It must be very difficult to have to make all these decisions but if you’re not happy there now is the time to make changes.
My uncle and aunt loved their South African life but when their son and wife moved to London and their daughter was coming up to secondary school age, they decided to move here.
They didn’t want their family split around the globe.
They had a very good life in London for the last 30 odd years I hasten to add.

Employment in south west could an issue as well as your housing budget. It tends to be very seasonal work and limited regular opportunities due to the dispersed population. Maybe the Kent coast which has an increasingly artistic reputation and investment but with that has come inflated property prices.

I would think very carefully about moving so far away from your daughter. If this move is going to be permanent then you have to consider what happens if you're unable to fly backwards and forwards to Oz, especially as you get older.

We have family in Australia and it's becoming more difficult for them to make the journey here any more.

Why not move elsewhere in Australia that is cheaper and friendlier? It will still be a fresh start.

If you're still set on moving to the UK, why not rent out your house fhere and come here for say a year, to see if you really like it. Another vote for Norfolk if you do (much better weather than the SW too) 😁

Goodness me, such lovely and thoughtful replies.
I have a teaching qualification that I believe is recognised in the UK, so don't think that's a problem. My teaching areas are DT and Art and I have been involved in curriculum writing and other leadership. My current job is in an independent high fee school so the demands on teachers is high. This means I don't have the time needed to join the hobbies or groups suggested above.

My DPs parents have both died, as has my Dad so there really isn't much family to consider. I maintain a relationship with my Mum as it benefits here. She returned from overseas when my Dad died recently and isn't great with kids, so there isn't a strong bond between her and DS. She's quite racist and narrow minded, and extremely selfish. She's also a Christian and pushes her agenda and beliefs on DS even though she knows I'm atheist.
I have had minimal support from her in the last 6 months even though she lives two streets away.

Those are the reasons why I'm not too concerned about leaving family, DD may even considercoming with me.

However the advice to wait it true, and I will take my time considering what to do.